Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday rejected the Opposition’s calls for his resignation in the wake of the Dera Sacha Sauda violence, saying his government reacted befittingly to the situation.
New Delhi: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday rejected the Opposition’s calls for his resignation in the wake of the Dera Sacha Sauda violence, saying his government reacted befittingly to the situation. [caption id=“attachment_3507199” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]![File image of Manohar Lal Khattar. PTI]()
File image of Manohar Lal Khattar. PTI[/caption] “We acted with restraint to execute the court’s orders and we succeeded in achieving our objective,” Khattar said after meeting BJP President Amit Shah. On the demands for his resignation from the chief minister’s post, Khattar said, “It doesn’t matter what they say, but we are satisfied with our actions. Whatever we did was right. Now there is peace in Haryana.” Khattar also gave a report to Shah on the violence that erupted on 25 August after a CBI court in Panchkula convicted self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of rape and criminal intimidation. After submitting the report, Khattar said that the situation is normal in Haryana. At least 38 people were killed and more than 250 injured in the violence that spread to other parts of Haryana besides Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi. The Khattar government drew flak from all quarters for mishandling the situation and allegedly giving a long rope to Dera followers who gathered in Panchkula in their thousands. The force used by the state police was minimal, he said, adding that it also showed no laxity against those indulging in violence. Responding to reports that the Dera said BJP came to power in Haryana with their support, Khattar said that in a democracy, they welcome all groups but that does not mean that they break the law. He also rejected reports of a “VIP treatment” given to the Dera head after he was convicted, saying he was temporarily put up in a guest house as arrangements were being made in the jail. He said that Ram Rahim’s adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan appealed in the CBI court to be allowed inside the jail as a helper for the Dera chief but the prison authorities did not allow.
With inputs from agencies
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